John William Lupardus​

 

​(Printed in THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM-SENTINEL in the column, 'WINDOW TO THE PAST', Jan. 27, 2011)

​John William Lupardus was born in Sharon, Noble Co., Ohio on 3 Dec 1860. He was one of three children born to Peter Lupardus and his first wife, Mary E. (Kyser). The Lupardus family originated in France and some of this family came to America and first settled in New York. The grandparents of John William (called Will) were Peter and Mary (Demic) Lupardus of New York.

 

Peter Burton Lupardus, father of Will, was born in 1833 in Muskingum Co, Ohio. Will's mother, Mary (Kyser) died in Ohio in 1862. Before her death she bore three children: Nancy Jane Lupardus 1858-1946 m. Harrison M. Sullivn in 1881; John William Lupardus 1860-1940 m. Sarah Catherine Cooper 1889; and Mary E. Lupardus b. 1862 m. William A. Elms. 

​​In May 1863, Peter Burton Lupardus married Joanna Caine in Noble Co., Ohio and about 1868, they moved to Miller County where they settled in Glaize Township near Ulman's Ridge. Over the years, Peter and Joanna produced 11 children including: 

 

​Florence Adelphia b. 1867 m. Alvin Gover 1886; James Elvy b. 1868 m. Adina Howser; Thomas Riggin b. 1869 m. 1869 m. Walksie Casey 1890; Rachel Ellen b1870-1950 m. James Chelsey Wyrick 1896; Priscilla May 1873-1912 m. Benjamin B. McDonald 1892; Henry Burton 1875-1964 m. (1) Evalina/Lena Casey (2) Dora Wyrick; Francis b. 1878 m. Virginia/Jennie Casey 1896p Ida Luna b 1880 m. Scott Helton; Bertha/Besie Esther 1883-1943 m Wm. H Brown 1907; Tolbert Chastine b. 1886 m. Margie Hendricks 1907; and Minnie Myrtle 1889-1980 m. Fred Patterson 1908.

Peter and Joanna are buried at Gott Cemetery. He died in 1914 and she died in 1919. They left many descendants in Miller County and other surrounding counties of Central Missouri.

 

John Will Lupardus, oldest son of Peter, grew to adulthood on the Lupardus family farm in Glaize township and was reared in a two-story log house that Peter built in the 19th century. The house still exists today and has been donated to the Miller County Historical Society. 

​​In 1995, family members reconstructed the old log home on the grounds of the museum in Tuscumbia.

 

On February 17, 1889, Will Lupardus married Sarah Catherine Cooper, a daughter of James M. and Louansa (Graham) Cooper, also of Glaize township. Her father was born in Kentucky in January 1838 and her mother was a native of Virginia, born in March 1842.... James and Louansa were parents of six children: Sarah Catherine 1866-1940 m. John Will Lupardus 1889; Margaret 1868-1930 m. Wm. Wesley Norwood 1892; Micca Ellen b. 1870 m. Frank L. Burks 1901; Ida Dee 1873-1971 m. Anthony Paul Nixdorf 1901; John S. 1874-1880; and Milton O. 1879-1962 m. Ida May Shikles 1902.

John Will and Sarah were living in the west part of Glaize Township during the census of 1900. Among their neighbors were the families of McMillian, Gover, Snellings, Edwards, McClain, Thornsberry, Catron, and Hogue.

John Will and Sarah were parents of 8 children, three who died in childhood. The children were: Lelia 1890-1891; Otto Orban 1892-1981 m. May Elizabeth Hughes; Opal O. b. 1895 m. Milton Louis Carnes; Ella Bay 1897-1912; Orin L. 1898-1967 m. Alice Katherine Reilly; Lynn b. 1901 m. Ruth Livingston 1936; Everett and Lois 1903-1903.
​         ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 
Will and Sarah both died in 1940 after spending 51 years together as husband and wife. Sarah died 29 Feb 1940 and Will lived until Oct. 10th. They were survived by one daughter and four sons. Both are buried at Gott Cemetery near Ulman. Per his obituary, Will was also survived by a sister, Nancy Jane Sullivan; six half-sisters, Florence Gover, Rachel Wyrick, Priscilla May McDonald, Ida Helton, Esther Brown and Minnie Patterson; and three half-brothers, James E. Lupardus, Henry Burton Lupardus and Tolbert Chastine Lupardus.

​